Having faded to near obscurity after a decade on the scene and numerous line-up changes. Lorna Shore rewrote the deathcore rulebook when they bounced back in 2022. Revitalised by the addition of vocalist Will Ramos. Their last album, Pain Remains left a high watermark that can still be seen now. High above the imitators that still crawl along the decimated shoreline. Picking through the remnants and driftwood left behind by the tsunami of universal acclaim it received upon its release.
It would be fair to say that having made such a massive impact with Pain Remains. The New Jersey natives now face the same ‘second album syndrome’ that plagues so many artists that come screaming out of the gate with an incredible debut record. Even though Pain Remains was far from their first rodeo. Thankfully however, I Feel The Everblack Festering Within Me. The latest studio album born from this incarnation of Lorna Shore, falls victim to no such sophomore slump!
The albums opening track, Prison of Flesh sets the tone for the hour and six minutes of sonic mayhem that awaits. It’s an utterly savage, seven-minute-long assault on the senses. Driven primarily by Austin Archey’s insane blast beats and Will Ramos’s unfathomable vocal range. It envelopes you immediately, rising and falling with a near orchestral grace that juxtaposes its brutality. So much so, that until your ears begin to adjust, it’s an almost claustrophobic experience.
Once your mind acclimatises to the maelstrom of sound though, you begin to fully appreciate the nuances that hide beneath the layers of chaos. Where other drummers push the envelope to punctuate a particular moment in a song, Archey leans back and leaves empty space that feels just as impactful. Similarly, Ramos’s vocals, which range all the way from animalistically guttural to bordering on operatic; especially during tracks like Oblivion and In Darkness, aren’t in your face for the very sake of it. Their pitch and delivery are exquisitely measured, becoming another instrument in the mix, rather than just adding lyrical heft.
As a result, a record that at first sounds simply abrasive, begins to take on new context and meaning. Unbreakable for instance, is built on the same blackened foundations as the tracks that precede it. Yet, thanks to some masterfully placed dual guitar harmonies from Adam De Micco and Andrew O’Connor, it sits triumphantly apart. As well as flowing perfectly into the chorial melodies of Glenwood. Demonstrating more than Lorna Shore’s maturity and ability to craft individual songs, but the level of thought and attention that has gone into creating I Feel The Everblack Festering Within Me as a whole.
Perhaps the best example of Lorna Shore’s mastery of their craft is their use of synths and backing vocals. Which, while present on Pain Remains, are even more significant here. From the symphonic strings and horns that bolster tracks like Death Can Take Me. To the robotic, EDM inspired additions in the likes of War Machine. It’s as though the band heard Mick Gordon’s interpretation of the soundtrack to hell itself and said ‘hold our beers’…
Where Pain Remains ended with a trilogy. I Feel The Everblack Festering Within Me comes to a close in just as epic a fashion. This time, with a singular statement in the form of Forevermore. A ten-minute-long distillation of every trick in Lorna Shore’s expansive, whiplash inducing repertoire. Ending the album on a note that is every bit as musically impressive as it is malevolent.
The astute may have noticed at no point during this review has the word heavy stumbled into view. Namely because it would be a massive understatement and would, over the course of I Feel The Everblack Festering Within Me’s runtime, have become meaningless. Yes, this is undoubtedly a record where every track is capable of shaking you to your core. If you’re looking for one of, if not the hardest hitting album of 2025, look no further.
If you’re able to see beyond that though. There is much more to I Feel The Everblack Festering Within Me. It isn’t just a lesson in technicality and ferocity. It’s a delicately crafted tapestry masquerading as an iron fist. Every thread is expertly woven; every colour placed with care and attention. Leaving behind a masterpiece that not only resets the bar, but cements Lorna Shore as reigning champions of the genre.
I Feel The Everblack Festering Within Me is scheduled for release on September 12th via Century Media and is available to pre-order/pre-save now. For more information on Lorna Shore, including their upcoming UK/EU tour. You can head over the the bands official website or, follow them on social media.
